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30 November 2020 | Story Leonie Bolleurs | Photo Leonie Bolleurs
At the National Symposium where agricultural water management scenarios for South Africa were discussed, were from the left: Emily Mathi from Agbiz; Chantel Ilbury; Prof Abiodun Ogundeji, Associate Professor in the UFS Department of Agricultural Economics; and Prof Andries Jordaan.
The Disaster Management Training and Education Centre (DiMTEC) at the University of the Free State (UFS) hosted a national symposium on agricultural water management. The symposium took place on 24 November at the Grain Building Agri-hub in Pretoria, with delegates also connecting via Zoom. 

At the symposium, the project leader of the research study, Prof Andries Jordaan (Executive Director: Résilience Globale Pty Ltd and Research Fellow: DiMTEC), presented the research findings of a study that DiMTEC conducted for the Water Research Commission (WRC). Three years ago, he applied for funding from the WRC to develop water management scenarios for South Africa for the period 2020 to 2030. Master’s and PhD students worked with him on the project.

Presenting at the symposium on behalf of the WRC, was Sylvester Mpandeli, the Executive Manager. He believes that education and knowledge transfer are a priority for the future and says that strategic partners such as universities are playing an important role through their research on water. 

Other important role players in the agricultural sector also presented their views. Prof Anthony Turton, Affiliated Professor in the Centre for Environmental Management at the UFS, who is known for extreme views on water management, delivered a presentation titled, Water is a Flux, so why Manage it as a Stock? where he posed the hard questions around this scarce commodity. 

The implications for food security

He pointed out a number of factors that, if not addressed, would have severe implications for food security in South Africa. 

“Firstly, although South Africa has world-class water legislation in the National Water Act, we failed to implement strategies to improve the quality of water. Water quality is below accepted standard and it is deteriorating. The ecological health of our ecosystems is worse. Rivers became eutrophic, a condition which is difficult to turn around. Sewerage discharge and people dumping garbage in the rivers contribute to this problem.”
 
He also indicated that infrastructure did not keep up with the demand. “It has been overloaded and very little is being done to upgrade our water infrastructure. The infrastructure is not fit for purpose anymore,” he says. 

Another concern pointed out was the fiscal cliff, a reality that was magnified with the COVID-19 pandemic. Funding for important structures such as the water commission and universities (playing a role in water research) will be lacking due to this fiscal cliff, he says. 

He states that we need to tackle sensitive topics, including expropriation without compensation, and bankruptcy of municipalities. He goes on to say that irrigation boards ought to be protected, empowered, and not taken over by the state. They must receive freedom to set tariffs to sustain themselves. He also adds that South Africa needs an independent water regulator. 

The insightful presentation by Chantel Ilbury from the company Mind of a Fox and member of the research team, sketched possible water management scenarios for South Africa that were developed during the research. She gave four scenarios: the conventional, the Z or no hope, the frustration, and the eagle scenario. The ideal is the latter, where water is seen as a strategic resource in agriculture by all stakeholders and it is driven by efficiency, good management, and new technologies. There is food security and good private/government relationships.

The Z or no hope scenario sketches a dark picture, with a declining agricultural sector, water misuse, and increasing water conflicts. She says this scenario indicates little new technology and innovation in the sector and ultimately a food insecure scenario for South Africa in the next 10 years.

Collaboration between government and private sector a must

After Ilbury’s presentation, Prof Jordaan provided measures that could be implemented through policy formulation to steer the country towards an eagle scenario.

Key issues investigated in the research study include governance, implementation of policy and political leadership, private sector involvement, innovation, technology, and respect for water by society. He points out that collaboration between government and the private sector is not negotiable – it is a must. 

Also touching on the point of water infrastructure, he proposes investment in new water infrastructure and water-saving technology. “The President’s economic development plan should emphasise capital formation in the water and energy sector.”

However, he says drought “is the trigger that can worsen the impact of negative scenarios”. He proposes that innovative policy on drought management should be implemented with a focus on disaster risk reduction. 

The Rector and Vice-Chancellor of the UFS, Prof Francis Petersen, provided a higher-education perspective. He says that universities are institutions that can find solutions to the greatest challenges of our time. “Universities are living laboratories, developing solutions to local, national, and global challenges.”

He believes that postgraduate studies and short courses can contribute in terms of skills development to further our understanding of key water issues. He also says that innovation is key to sustainable water futures. “There needs to be an intentional focus on collaboration, co-creation, and knowledge sharing among different sectors of the economy to inform policy and practice on all aspects related to water.”

Importance of infrastructure development

AgriSA, the Agricultural Business Chamber, and the African Farmers Association of South Africa (AFASA) also provided their views on water management in South Africa. 

Theo Boshoff, representing the Agricultural Business Chamber, emphasised the importance of infrastructure development. “Infrastructure development is an enabler and a positive sign, and it need to be implemented now.”

Keith Middleton, representing AFASA, states that black farmers do not want to remain small. We need to look at how we can increase black commercial farmers. Most of agricultural water is still in commercial hands. The redistribution of water will impact the development of black farmers. He proposes that everyone reapplies for water rights. “The current situation hampers the entrance of black farmers into the sector,” he says.

“We want equity with access to water.”

Janse Rabie, speaking on behalf of AgriSA, confirmed the conviction of some of the other speakers, who all believe in the importance of good relationships between the role players. “The biggest risk is not talking to each other,” he says.

 

 

WATCH: Symposium Provides Course of Action for Good Water Management - Prof Andries Jordaan



 

 

WATCH: Symposium Provides Course of Action for Good Water Management - Chantel Ilbury



News Archive

Inaugural lecture: Prof Robert Bragg, Dept. of Microbial, Biochemical and Food Biotechnology
2006-05-17



Attending the inaugural lecture were in front from the left Prof Robert Bragg (lecturer at the Department of Microbial, Biochemical and Food Biotechnology) and Frederick Fourie (Rector and Vice-Chancellor).  At the back from the left were Prof James du Preez (Departmental Chairperson:  Department of Microbial, Biochemical and Food Biotechnology) and Prof Herman van Schalkwyk (Dean: Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences). Photo: Stephen Collett
 

A summary of an inaugural lecture delivered by Prof Robert Bragg at the University of the Free State:

CONTROL OF INFECTIOUS AVIAN DISEASES – LESSONS FOR MAN?

Prof Robert R Bragg
Department of Microbial, Biochemical and Food Biotechnology
University of the Free State

“Many of the lessons learnt in disease control in poultry will have application on human medicine,” said Prof Robert Bragg, lecturer at the University of the Free State’s (UFS) Department of Microbial, Biochemical and Food Biotechnology during his inaugural lecture.

Prof Bragg said the development of vaccines remains the main stay of disease control in humans as well as in avian species.  Disease control can not rely on vaccination alone and other disease-control options must be examined.  

“With the increasing problems of antibiotic resistance, the use of disinfection and bio security are becoming more important,” he said.

“Avian influenza (AI) is an example of a disease which can spread from birds to humans.  Hopefully this virus will not develop human to human transmission,” said Prof Bragg.

According to Prof Bragg, South Africa is not on the migration route of water birds, which are the main transmitters of AI.  “This makes South Africa one of the countries less likely to get the disease,” he said.

If the AI virus does develop human to human transmission, it could make the 1918 flu pandemic pale into insignificance.  During the 1918 flu pandemic, the virus had a mortality rate of only 3%, yet more than 50 million people died.

Although the AI virus has not developed human-to-human transmission, all human cases have been related to direct contact with infected birds. The mortality rate in humans who have contracted this virus is 67%.

“Apart from the obvious fears for the human population, this virus is a very serious poultry pathogen and can cause 100% mortality in poultry populations.  Poultry meat and egg production is the staple protein source in most countries around the world. The virus is currently devastating the poultry industry world-wide,” said Prof Bragg.

Prof Bragg’s research activities on avian diseases started off with the investigation of diseases in poultry.  “The average life cycle of a broiler chicken is 42 days.  After this short time, they are slaughtered.  As a result of the short generation time in poultry, one can observe changes in microbial populations as a result of the use of vaccines, antibiotics and disinfectants,” said Prof Bragg.   

“Much of my research effort has been directed towards the control of infectious coryza in layers, which is caused by the bacterium Avibacterium paragallinarum.  This disease is a type of sinusitis in the layer chickens and can cause a drop in egg product of up to 40%,” said Prof Bragg.

The vaccines used around the world in an attempt to control this disease are all inactivated vaccines. One of the most important points is the selection of the correct strains of the bacterium to use in the vaccine.

Prof Bragg established that in South Africa, there are four different serovars of the bacterium and one of these, the serovar C-3 strain, was believed to be unique to Southern Africa. He also recently discovered this serovar for the first time in Israel, thus indicating that this serovar might have a wider distribution than originally believed.

Vaccines used in this country did not contain this serovar.  Prof Bragg established that the long term use of vaccines not containing the local South African strain resulted in a shift in the population distribution of the pathogen.

Prof Bragg’s research activities also include disease control in parrots and pigeons.   “One of the main research projects in my group is on the disease in parrots caused by the circovirus Beak and Feather Disease virus. This virus causes serious problems in the parrot breeding industry in this country. This virus is also threatening the highly endangered and endemic Cape Parrot,” said Prof Bragg.

Prof Bragg’s research group is currently working on the development of a DNA vaccine which will assist in the control of the disease, not only in the parrot breeding industry, but also to help the highly endangered Cape Parrot in its battle for survival.

“Not all of our research efforts are directed towards infectious coryza or the Beak and Feather Disease virus.  One of my Masters students is currently investigating the cell receptors involved in the binding of Newcastle Disease virus to cancerous cells and normal cells of humans. This work will also eventually lead to a possible treatment of cancer in humans and will assist with the development of a recombinant vaccine for Newcastle disease virus,” said Prof Bragg.

We are also currently investigating an “unknown” virus which causes disease problems in poultry in the Western Cape,” said Prof Bragg.
 
“Although disinfection has been extensively used in the poultry industry, it has only been done at the pre-placement stage. In other words, disinfectants are used before the birds are placed into the house. Once the birds are placed, all use of disinfectants stops,” said Prof Bragg.

“Disinfection and bio security can be seen as the ‘Cinderella’ of disease control in poultry.  This is also true for human medicine. One just has to look at the high numbers of people who die from hospital-acquired infections to realise that disinfection is not a concept which is really clear in human health care,” said Prof Bragg.

Much research has been done in the control of diseases through vaccination and through the use of antibiotics. “These pillars of disease control are, however, starting to crumble and more effort is needed on disinfection and bio security,” said Prof Bragg.

Prof Bragg has been working in close co-operation with a chemical manufacturing company in Stellenbosch to develop a unique disinfectant which his highly effective yet not toxic to the birds.

As a result of this unique product, he has developed the continual disinfection program for use in poultry. In this program the disinfectant is used throughout the production cycle of the birds. It is also used to ensure that there is excellent pre-placement disinfection.

“The program is extensively used for the control of infectious diseases in the parrot-breeding industry in South Africa and the product has been registered in 15 countries around the world with registration in the USA in the final process,” said Prof Bragg.

“Although the problem of plasmid mediated resistance to disinfectants is starting to rear its ugly head, this has allowed for the opening of a new research field which my group will hopefully exploit in the near future,” he said.

 

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